Dear Everyone ~
Bookful of Art Inspirations is my eleventh Bookful collaboration with artist, author & dear friend Cat Bennett. Our four-session workshop via Zoom will begin on Saturday, September 16, a scant week before the autumnal equinox.
In this series, we will explore the themes & styles of three wonderful women artists: Vanessa Bell (1879–1961), sister of Virginia Woolf; Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979), who lived and worked in Paris; and Rose Wylie (b. 1934), who is still painting huge canvases in Kent, England and achieved artistic recognition at the age of 80!
The structure you will learn to make in this series is a drop-spine accordion book measuring 5½ x 5½ x ¾, with hard covers. Your accordion panels, each measuring 5 x 5, will open to 5" x 8-plus ft. when fully extended. Displayed upright on a ledge, mantel, or shelf, your panels will look lovely opened to 4 or 5 or 6 ft.
The back cover has a cloth-covered vertical pocket that secures your accordion-block in place and also allows you to easily remove & replace it with a fresh accordion-block. We love the idea that you can refresh the contents of your book whenever, or even share or exchange them with another person—that would be lovely! You can create a series, or seasonal swap, of accordions over time.
The kitful of materials I’ve selected for this Bookful includes a particularly yummy selection of Japanese decorative papers & bookcloths from my reserves. As you know, I delight in mixing & matching colours and patterns. If there’s a particular palette or combination that strikes your fancy, please feel free to e me and I will do my best to accommodate your request.
In weeks #2, #3, & #4, Cat will begin the workshop session with a curated slideshow. She will then lead the class in painting & drawing exercises using a variety of mediums, including coloured pencils + watercolour, pen & ink, and collage. We’ll also explore painting with gouache, which is opaque, and wondrous for the layering of colours.
Cat & I want to assure you, especially if you are a Bookful newcomer, that truly no drawing or bookbinding experience is necessary—all levels of artistic skill & interest are welcome. Our pace is relaxed & supportive, and the camaraderie is delightful. Plus, you will have four complete workshop videos (recorded in real time) to watch and rewatch at your leisure. We look forward to seeing you soonish via Zoom!
Bookful of Art Inspirations
Zooming, Bari
PS:
Stationery Store Day was the least stationary day ever at Bari Zaki Studio, both in person and online. It made my heart smile from ear to ear to see so many familiar faces and several new faces waltzing in the shop, all basking in papery pleasures. It was a particularly grand day for sales of “Rag & Pulp.” The very elaborate multi-medium bookmarks-with-purchase were ready in record time, thanks hugely to my two nimble collaboratrices: Janet Bouldin and my new shop assistant Ruby! Next week I will showcase the assembly process in squiggly, stitchy, seal-of-approval detail!